Are Women Better than Men at Knowledge Absorbing? : An Empirical Search in NGOs

This study investigates the impact of males and females’ knowledge absorption capacity among the NGO (Non-Governmental Organisational)-beneficiaries in Bangladesh.  A massive number of NGOs (appx. 22000) are in operations in Bangladesh. The NGO-beneficiaries are the main stakeholders engaged in receiving and absorption of the knowledge transferred by the NGOs. Multi-staged sampling procedure is used.  14-NGOs (7 large and 7 small of the NGO Affairs Bureau enlisted NGOs) from each administrative division of Bangladesh (Bangladesh has seven administrative divisions) are purposefully selected. 54-semi-structured interviews consisting of top, middle and lower levels based on the salary grades (18X interviewees from each level) were interviewed. Simultaneously, 35 questionnaires among the beneficiaries were also administered (5 from each administrative division, e.g. 5X7=35). Content analysis technique is used to analyse the interview transcript. The study reveals that female beneficiaries have more capable in absorbing knowledge than those of the male beneficiaries. Future researchers may carry out similar research in a different country. Key Words: Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Absorption, NGOs, Banglades

Location of Facilities: Towards a New Approach for NGOs

This is a conceptual paper addressing the site selection criteria for the NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations). A high-quality site for the NGOs helps in implementing their objectives and thus the beneficiaries are immensely benefitted. An ideal site also helps the NGOs from the curse of overlapping and thus it facilitates the NGOs from preventing the wastage of the resources. This is a very important strategic decision, which should not be made without careful considerations and analysis. In this regard the NGOs should take the political, economical, social factors of the locations into contingence. The resource strength of the particular NGO also demands the assessments. The socio-economic condition of the potential beneficiaries is a vital factor. The contributions of NGOs in various aspects of human lives such as poverty alleviation, education, family planning, employment, relief operations in natural calamities and health and infrastructure development for the poor, have made this sector an indispensable one in the modern society. Public goods theory, subsidy theory, contract failure theory etc are the corresponding models acknowledging the NGO/Non-profit sector-operations. The NGOs are self governing, private, not profit organizations that are geared to improving the quality of life of the disadvantaged people (Vakil, 1997). The socio-economic condition of the people of the locality, NGO-overlapping issues, political situation of the locality, government policy and patronization, law and order situation, operational costs, local supports, safety of the NGO-field workers, financing facilities, means of transportation, local and national culture, poverty level analysis etc are the factors which may be taken into consideration for the deployment of the NGOs in a location. The proposed site selection model and point rating method may be helpful in this regard. Future researchers may empirically examine the subject matter of this article] Key Words: NGOs, Location, Site Selection Factor

The Unheard Soliloquy of NGO-Employees in Bangladesh: Some Empirical Findings

This research explores, collects, collates and disseminates the suggestions and recommendations of the NGO-employees in Bangladesh. The highest number of the NGOs is operating in Bangladesh than any other country with the similar geographical size in the world. This study follows the multi-stage sampling techniques. Bangladesh consists of 7-administrative divisions and the NGOs are selected from each division. From each division a district, from that district a single thana and from that thana an union (the lowest administrative division) is nominated for the semi-structured interviews. Out of NGO-Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) enlisted 2445 NGOs, 14XNGOs (7Xlarge and 7X small NGOs) are purposefully selected for the interviews. Total 54-semi-structured interviews consisting of top, middle and lower levels based on salary grades (18X interviewee from each grade) were selected for the interviews. The content analysis technique is used to analyse the semi-structured interview transcriptions. The study finds that the respondents mainly suggest for cooperation and coordination between the vital stakeholders (16.67%), restructuring the rules and regulations (16.67%), accountability and transparency (11.67%), rectifications of NGOAB activities (8.33%), education and training (8.33%), welfare and wages (8.33%) etc. The implementation of the recommendations of the NGO-employees may help to improve the NGO-operations in Bangladesh. Future researcher may carry out similar operations in a different country. Key words: NGOs, NGO-employees, Banglades

Poverty Marching Towards Museums: NGOs in Bangladesh Revisited

Many people believe that Bangladesh is a land of natural calamities, poverty, and unemployment. Bangladesh is on the verge  of overcoming those problems. Due to the resource and economic constraints, the government could not provide an economically solvent life to its people. The NGOs could fill up those gaps in manifolds. At present almost 25,000 NGOs are operating in Bangladesh. They have a wide range of functional coverage, namely, microcredit, empowerment/income generation, education, health and nutrition, environment, natural calamities/disaster management, human rights and legal aids, water and sanitation, poultry and livestock, agriculture, relief and rehabilitation,  advocacy etc. BRAC is the largest NGO in Bangladesh. In addition, ASA, Proshika, PKSF, Caritas, TMSS, World Vision, Swanirvar Bangladesh, CARE, Shakti Foundation, RDRS are the major NGOs operating in Bangladesh. Microcredit model invented by Yunus is used by the NGOs in Bangladesh and many counties of the globe. This study carries out a longitudinal research following the observational method and multi-stage sampling with open interviews with the NGO-employees, foreign donors  and the beneficiaries in the seven administrative divisions in Bangladesh with a view to  finding out the  answer of the following research questions: (i) is  poverty  wiping out from Bangladesh? (ii) what is the role of the NGOs and Grameen Bank (GB) in the socio-economic development of the people? In brief, the study could understand- though the progress is slow,  the poverty level of the people gradually going down in Bangladesh. In this regard the contributions of the NGOs and the Grameen Bank cannot be ignored. A number of recommendations are chalked out. Suggestions for future researchers are presented Key Words: Poverty, NGOs, Banglades

The NGOs’ Knowledge and Socio-economic Development: An Empirical Investigation in Bangladesh

This empirical study investigates the type of knowledge the NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) transfer to the beneficiaries in Bangladesh.  About 22,000 NGOs are in operations in Bangladesh with a view to developing the socio-economic conditions of their beneficiaries. Knowledge transfer is a crucial element of Knowledge Management (KM) process. The NGO-beneficiaries are the main stakeholders who are engaged in receiving the knowledge transferred by the NGOs. So it is imperative to know the type of knowledge they (the beneficiaries) are receiving from the NGOs. This study follows multi-stage sampling procedure. 14-NGOs (7 large and 7 small of the NGO Affairs Bureau enlisted NGOs) from each administrative division of Bangladesh are purposefully selected. 54-semi-structured interviews consisting of top, middle and lower levels based on the salary grades (18X interviewees from each level) were interviewed. Content analysis technique is used to analyze the interview transcript. The study reveals that NGOs transfer knowledge to the beneficiaries on health and nutrition, knowledge on credit, knowledge on human and legal rights, knowledge on disaster management, knowledge on awareness building, knowledge on environmental issues, agricultural knowledge, knowledge on income generating skills and other miscellaneous knowledge. Future researchers may explore further research on the following issues: (i) how far the NGOs could reduce poverty through knowledge transfer in Bangladesh? (ii) Is the knowledge transferred by the NGOs sufficient for the beneficiaries? (iii) Could the NGOs transfer knowledge as per the requirements of the beneficiaries? Key Words: Types of Knowledge, NGO, Banglades

Does Age Matter in Knowledge Absorption? : An Empirical Study on Female Beneficiaries in NGOs

Does age matters in knowledge absorption? This study investigates the impact of age on knowledge absorption among the NGO (Non-Governmental Organisational) female beneficiaries in Bangladesh. The NGO-beneficiaries (females) are the main actors who are engaged in receiving and absorption of the knowledge transferred by the NGOs. So it is essential to know the knowledge absorption capacity of theirs (the female-beneficiaries). This study follows multi-staged sampling procedure. 14-NGOs (7X large and 7X small NGOs) from each administrative division of Bangladesh are purposefully selected. 54-semi-structured interviews consisting of top, middle and lower levels based on the salary grades (18X interviewees from each level) were interviewed. Concurrently, 35 questionnaires among the beneficiarieswere also administered (5 from each administrative division, e.g. 5X7=35). Content analysis technique is used to analyse the interview transcript. It finds, age group 36-55 years have more knowledge absorption capacity than those of below 20 and 21-35 years groups. Future researchers may conduct similar study in a different country]. Key Words: Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Absorption, NGOs, Banglades

Old vs. Young- Who can Absorb More Knowledge? : An Empirical Study on Male Beneficiaries in NGOs

[This article examines the impact of different age groups on knowledge absorption among the NGO (Non-Governmental Organisational) male-beneficiaries in Bangladesh. Knowledge transfer is a crucial element of Knowledge Management (KM) process. Successful knowledge absorption by the recipients means a successful knowledge transfer. The NGO-beneficiaries are the main actors who are engaged in receiving and absorption of the knowledge transferred by the NGOs. So it is imperative to know the knowledge absorption capacity of theirs (the beneficiaries). This study follows multi-staged sampling procedure. 14-NGOs (7 large and 7 small of the NGO Affairs Bureau enlisted NGOs) from each administrative division (there are seven administrative divisions in Bangladesh) of Bangladesh are purposefully selected. 54-semi-structured interviews consisting of top, middle and lower levels based on the salary grades (18X interviewees from each level) were interviewed. Simultaneously, 35 questionnaires among the beneficiarieswere also administered (5 from each administrative division, e.g. 5X7=35). Content analysis technique is used to analyse the interview transcript. The study finds that age group 36-55 years has more knowledge absorption capacity than those of below 20 and 21-35 years groups. Future researchers may conduct similar study in a different country] Key Words: Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge Absorption, NGOs, Banglades

Taxonomies of NGOs Revisited: A Bangladesh Perspective

This conceptual paper is based on the NGO-classifications in the context of Bangladesh. “NGOs”, engaged in socio-economic development of the people, are the self-governing, non-profit and donor-dependent organisations.  Donors, NGO themselves and the beneficiaries are the main stakeholders in the NGO-sector. NGOs mainly operate on the public goods theory, contract failure theory and tax subsidy theory. Numerous authors and researchers have classified NGOs in various ways. The categorizations are mostly based on size, scope, recipient of donation, locations etc. NGOs, located in South-Asia, are classified as Grass Roots, Intermediary and International/donor NGOs. Bangladeshi NGOs may be divided as  the General Voluntary Social Welfare Organisations (GVSWO), National Social Welfare Organisations, Operating with foreign donations and Foreign NGOs. NGOs may be classified as the basis of objectives and functioning (e.g. Single purpose advocacy and multi-purpose development).  Welfare provision, campaigning, advocacy, and hybrid NGOs-is one of the taxonomies, while NGOs are also put under the headings of southern, intermediary and membership organisations. This paper classifies Bangladeshi NGOs into microcredit NGOs, mixed NGOs and non-microcredit NGOs. Further, this paper, on the basis of origin and operations, divides Bangladeshi NGOs into local and International. Future researchers may empirically examine the taxonomies in the context of any other country. Key Words:  NGOs, Classifications, Banglades

NDM-562: BEHAVIOUR OF CONCRETE COLUMNS WITH GFRP CIRCULAR AND RECTILINEAR CONFINING REINFORCEMENT

Glass Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars are becoming a feasible alternative to steel bars to produce corrosion- free reinforced concrete structures. In an effort to assess the effectiveness GFRP spirals and GFRP rectilinear ties as internal reinforcement in columns, an extensive research program is underway at the University of Toronto. Fifteen 356 mm diameter full-scale circular columns and sixteen 305 mm x 305 mm cross-section square columns were constructed and tested under simulated earthquake loading. This extended abstract presents an example comparison of the experimental behaviour of circular and square concrete columns with internal reinforcement comprising of steel longitudinal bars and GFRP lateral spirals or ties. Results are presented in the form of moment vs. curvature response and shear vs. lateral deflection behaviour

Study of bone marrow: dyserythropoiesis for etiological evaluation of anemia

Background: Bone Marrow Aspiration plays a major role in the diagnosis of various hematolgical disorders which are very frequent in various age groups. The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of haematological disorders, and to interpret the bone marrow aspiration findings with various dyserythropoietic changes in it.Methods: This was a study carried out in the department of Pathology of Shri M P Shah Govt. Medical college over a period of two years from June 2008 to June 2010. Bone marrow examination of 100 cases of suspected haematological disorders was carried out. All details of the patients were the recorded in the department of pathology.Results: Out of 100 cases of bone marrow aspiration, erythroid hyperplasia and megaloblastic changes were commonest findings and Megaloblastic anemia was most common diagnosis given on bone marrow examination. Other dyserythropoietic changes were erythroidhypoplasia, micronormoblasts, dimorphic erythropoiesis, megaloblastoid changes and other like – cytoplasmic bleb, multinucleation,nuclear bridging.Conclusions: The sincere blood film examination and keen morphological evaluation of erythroid series for dyserythropiesis   and  leukopoesis and  megakaryopiesis in bone marrow aspiration smear - supported with   other investigation can navigate to etiological factors of anaemia and other haematological disorders.